Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: strategic location along southern approaches to
Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
@United Arab Emirates:People
Population: 2,369,153 note: includes 1,576,472 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 359,134; female 345,518) 15-64 years: 68% (male 1,029,898; female 582,783) 65 years and over: 2% (male 35,928; female 15,892) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.61% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 3.68 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)